Page 24 of The Cursed Chalice

“Find another.”

“Well, I did, and I couldn’t leave her in any.”

Leave her? I sit up in the chair. “Where is she?”

“Funny thing.” She walks to the door and opens it. “Come in, Nisa.”

I sit up, bracing myself for the little tyrant that screamed at me in the container.

The little brown girl walks in with a head full of curls in a ponytail, overalls, and a pink T-shirt.

“Nisa, this is Ares, or Aric. He is your new guardian.”

“No.” Both Nisa and I say it at the same time.

“No?” I ask, feeling slightly…slighted.

Nisa steps back in disgust. “You want me to stay with Mr. Monster?”

Hecate chuckles. “Don’t let the scar fool you; he is a teddy bear.”

“I am not,” I say, looking at the small dictator.

She shrugs. “Either way, I’d rather stay in an overpopulated orphanage than stay in this…” Nisa looks around the office.

“This?” I was interested in what she had to say.

“This mausoleum. And it smells weird. Why can’t I stay with you, Ms. Cate?”

Hecate smiles at her. “My home is not fit for children, dear child.”

Why the hell would she not want to live with me?

“Why the hell do you care, Ares?”

I ignore Aric. I stand, wanting to frighten her a bit. Instead, Nisa throws her shoulders back and looks at me.

“She’s got guts.”

Before I can say something, Hecate clutches her shoulders and turns Nisa to face her. “What are your favorite colors?”

Nisa taps her chin. “Red, pink, gold, and black.”

Hecate pretends to wipe away a tear. “A child after my own heart.”

I clear my throat, but I am ignored.

“Leave this room and take a left. The third door will have your name on it.”

Hold on. “What?”

Hecate ignores me. “Go wait there for me.”

Nisa looks over her shoulder and skips to the door.

“She can’t stay here, Hecate.”

Hecate clasps her hands, watching the child leave.